iTunes Review

Rancid hones its feverish, rabid assault on …And Out Come the Wolves, with more finely crafted songwriting, irresistible hooks, and impassioned lyrics. These punk and ska bashers know the benefits of brevity (the longest song here tops out at 3 1/2 minutes), lending force and immediacy to their political rants ("Lock, Step & Gone"), portraits of inner-city strife ("Avenues & Alleyways") and big-ups to influential music ("Roots Radicals"). But it's the surging energy of the music that distinguishes this record. Loose and raw, the songs feature crashing drums, furious guitar licks, hungry bass, and Tim Armstrong's impassioned vocals, which can be simultaneously sung, spoken, and spit. Not since the days of the Clash and the Specials has political anger felt so unabashedly cool.

Customer Reviews

A mainstay in what punk rock has become

by
yeahyeah24

It is a shame what the youth of today labels "punk rock." Do you remember when PR was a revolution, albeit, a way of life? Do you remember being eight years old and drowning yourself in the tunes of op ivy, the ramones, bad brains, minor threat, screeching weasel, the descendents, not having a care because you could soak down into the lyrics of these (and other) bands? This album by Rancid still has to be one of my favorites... You can't help but empathizing to "Journey to the End of the East Bay" and what disbanding feels like. Call it what you will: west coast, ska, punk, hardcore, bay area, etc, but for me I cannot attach a label to them nor any of the forementioned bands-it is good music... Such a shame what is played on the radio these days and the label that they attach to it.

Rancid's masterpiece

by
bdgrey

It's that simple. They don't make music like this anymore, but that's okay, because this album is just that good. Every song gets me all riled up and crazy inside. Here's how good this album is. It came out like 14 years ago, and I lost the album a long time. Then I found it on iTunes, and listened to it 17 times in 2 months before I had to restore my iPod. Oh, and Matt Freeman is the best bassist in the world.

Perfection

by
brothersport

I can clearly remember when I first bought this CD - I was in the sixth grade, and the college-aged chick working behind the counter complemented me on the purchase, nodding with great satisfaction. I would later realize that she knew very well the potential that this record has to change one's life. This album is simply too good to summarize in one song. Every song is classic. You need to sit down and listen to it for yourself, and let the songs work their way into your life. This album will never leave me. In the eight years since acquiring this album I have become a fan of all different types of music, and still this record hits so true for its raw energy, passion, honesty, and heart. Tim Armstrong and the boys pour their souls into everything they do, but this is their finest hour. A timeless accomplishment in songwriting and rock and roll. Unquestionably one of my favorites from any genre, and my favorite punk record ever.

Biography

Formed: 1991 in Berkeley, CA

Genre: Rock

Years Active: '90s, '00s, '10s

One of the cornerstone bands of the '90s punk revival, Rancid's unabashedly classicist sound drew heavily from the Clash's early records, echoing their left-leaning politics and fascination with ska, while adding a bit of post-hardcore crunch. While some critics dismissed Rancid as derivative, others praised their political commitment, surging energy, and undeniable way with a hook. And, regardless of critical debate over their significance, the band's strengths made them perhaps the most popular...